The Language Of Money

SAY WHAT? A test of several city agencies by covert city workers found many customer service centers couldn’t adequately aid those who don’t speak English. Few government offices with walk-in facilities provided accessible translation and/or interpretation services. It’s amazing though how New York’s newest immigrants (including illegal aliens) manage to communicate effectively enough when it comes to collecting financial, medical and educational support services. I’d like for someone to explain in plain English how that can be.

Taser Slay Jolts NYPD

Several weeks ago, a naked and distraught Bedford-Stuyvesant man was mistakenly "Tased" by a NYPD Emergency Service Unit officer. Iman Morales, 35, fell from a window roll-down gate to his death upon Brooklyn's hard pavement below, ten feet below. An initial police review determined that two officers (Lieutenant Michael Pigot who ordered the shot be taken and Officer Nicholas Marchesona who took it) were apparently at fault. Sadly, in the days that followed, the distraught lieutenant committed suicide. Tasers may save lives if used properly. The use of electricity to stun is arguably safer than using bullets to stop. Police guidelines state that a Taser should not be used "when the subject is in a position where a fall may cause substantial injury or death." Also stated in the guidelines is the fact that officers must assess the situation thoroughly before deciding to use a Taser. Had these two rules been followed, two of our fellow New Yorkers would be alive today. In 2008, 180 Taser shootings occurred in NYC. There was only this one fatality. That’s not a bad record for our New York City police department. To their credit and our benefit, even one death is too many. The NYPD is taking swift action and looking into solutions to prevent future fatalities. For example:
· There’s been a new commanding officer installed for the NYPD's Emergency Services Unit.
· All 440 ESU officers are being retrained at a Taser refresher course at Brooklyn’s Floyd Bennett Field.
· Advanced knowledge of a situation can be vital to its peaceful resolution. A database of incidents at a particular address may be available to officers responding to emergency calls.
Additional mental health training for cops is being discussed as well as the use of a database culled from existing psychiatric records. This is sure to run up against reasonable opposition.
The NYPD will continue to examine this case for some time to come. Morales untimely demise may lead to a change in the morals of the NYPD. Let’s pray that from this double tragedy, not a single episode like this will ever occur again.

Not Made In America

12 million immigrants were processed through Ellis Island between 1892 and 1954. Many came before. Many arrived since. Immigrants came to America through portals other than Ellis Island too. Now, their stories will be told at the Ellis Island Immigration Museum. There’ll be a special wing at the museum called “The Peopling of America Center.” Visitors will learn about the arrival of groups including native Americans who migrated here, blacks imported as slaves, Mexicans who became “annexed” Americans, Asians who came in a wave across the Pacific and a multitude of other groups in more recent times. This is a wonderful idea for all of us to learn about America’s diverse heritage. Near to the Statue of Liberty and the multi-cultural city, New York, there’s no more fitting place to have this remembrance than right here in our harbor.

Doesn’t NYS Love NYC?

Over the years, the “I Love New York” campaigns bringing visitors to New York State have been extremely productive. New York City is by far the most popular tourist destination in New York. Despite this vital fact to the state’s economy, Sean Cunningham, 23, didn’t think it necessary to include a single shot of NYC in a 60-second movie in New York State’s commercial contest. Stunningly, his movie was chosen as the contest winner! Judges chose among 15 finalists to select this Big Apple-absent film. Maybe it’s time NYC reminds the judges who the real star is here. Maybe it’s time to revive the 51st state campaign.

Sharpen The Budget Scissors

Tough economic times demand hard economic decisions. Mayor Bloomberg is sharpening the blades now. He’s ordered $1.5 billion in city-agency cuts. That breaks down to 2.5% this year and 5% next year. He spoke of reducing expenses and raising revenues. Advocates for the city’s largest departments will undoubtedly be heard from very soon. Each will complain that slashed budgets were unfairly decided and will unfairly hurt New York. We know better. All city agencies waste millions of our tax dollars. All city agencies must undergo severe budget cutting ... just like the rest of us. New Yorkers will suffer to an extent, but we’ll survive. We’ve been through worse before. Besides, smaller government doing the same amount of work, or ideally more work, seems like a pretty good idea … except to those who squander our money and must work for it.

A Tree-House Grows In Manhattan

New York residents love public art. Just measure the popularity of “The Gates” or “Waterfalls.” “Tree Huts,” conceived by Japanese artist Tadashi Kawamara may be the next tree-mendous art sensation here in NYC. This project will be on display through New Year’s Eve in the Flatiron District’s Madison Square Park. It features 12 pinewood tree houses in overhead branches. It’s surprising that local tree-huggers, bird watchers and animal activists haven’t "chopped down" the idea yet.

The Taxman Means Business

Either overdue sales taxes will be collected or business owners theselves may be collected … for prison. Local pizzeria owners, used-car dealers and other city business owners dealing primarily in cash, "be on the alert." You’ll soon feel the heat of the taxman and a new force of 125 investigators, auditors and lawyers. It's all part of the state’s new Special Investigation Unit. 10,000 warning letters have been sent requesting money owed. Many small business owners believe these are merely “scare tactics.” They shouldn’t be so sure. Delinquent business taxpayers will no longer be tolerated by New York State. The letters offer a second chance to meet their responsibilities. Penalties will be waived for those who come clean now. All New Yorker's must pay taxes. Business owners hiding currency in their books or at home "under the mattress" risk seeing an “Under New Management” sign in their windows.